Propiedades Tribológicas de Películas de AlSn Depositadas por Magnetron Sputtering [Tribological Properties of AlSn Thin Films Deposited by Magnetron Sputtering]

In this paper structural and tribological properties of thin films, made with the bimetal 20AlSn used as solid lubricant in the automotive industry, were studied. Films with thicknesses in the range 150 nm to 3μm were deposited by magnetron sputtering. It is found that in the thinner films predominates a diffusion growth mechanism, while for larger thicknesses it is observed an aggregation growth mechanism. A finely dispersed structure of uniform particle size and shape, vital for good tribological behavior, is obtained.